Hispano-Suiza

Quad permanent magnet synchronous motors. 1114hp total output. 1600Nm torque instant. AWD all-wheel drive. Single-speed reduction gears. 4930mm length. 2870mm wheelbase. 1630kg curb weight. Two-seat grand tourer. Carbon fiber monocoque QEV Technologies. 80kWh battery pack. 400km WLTP range. 0-100 km/h 2.6 seconds. 290km/h top speed limited. Torque vectoring sophisticated. Regenerative braking advanced. 1920s Art Deco inspired design. Dubonnet front suspension tribute. Retro-futuristic aesthetics. Limited production 19 units only. Barcelona Spain manufacturing. Heritage celebration vehicle. Ultra-luxury electric hypercar.

Dual permanent magnet electric motors. 1019hp combined output. 1600Nm torque. AWD all-wheel drive. Single-speed transmissions. 4930mm length. 2870mm wheelbase. 1690kg curb weight. Two-seat configuration. Carbon fiber monocoque chassis. 80kWh battery capacity. 400km WLTP range. 0-100 km/h 2.9 seconds. 250km/h top speed electronically limited. 1938 Dubonnet Xenia inspiration. Art Deco design language. Copper color signature. Heritage styling modern execution. QEV Technologies collaboration. Barcelona manufacturing Spain. Limited production 19 units. Ultra-exclusive hypercar. Collector car instant. Historic brand revival.

The overhead-camshaft masterpiece that established Hispano-Suiza's engineering reputation. This 3,759cc inline-four featured an aluminum block with steel cylinder liners—revolutionary for 1910. The cylinder head used a single overhead camshaft driven by a vertical shaft and bevel gears, operating two valves per cylinder via inverted bucket tappets. The valve springs were concentric, with the inlet spring inside the exhaust spring. Induction was through a single Zenith carburetor, while ignition used a Bosch magneto with dual spark plugs per cylinder. With 4.5:1 compression, it produced 60 hp at 1,850 RPM and massive low-end torque. The engine featured full-pressure lubrication with a gear-type oil pump and oil filter—advanced features for the era. Each engine was hand-built with meticulous attention to detail, featuring polished aluminum castings and exquisite machining that set new standards for automotive refinement and reliability.

The overhead-camshaft straight-six that defined luxury motoring in the 1920s. This 6,597cc inline-six featured an aluminum block with steel wet liners and a seven-bearing crankshaft. The cylinder head used a single overhead camshaft driven by a vertical shaft and spiral bevel gears, operating two valves per cylinder. The valvetrain featured adjustable tappets with ball pivots and hemispherical combustion chambers. Induction was through a single Solex carburetor (dual carburetors on H6C), while ignition used a Bosch magneto with automatic advance. With 5.0:1 compression, it produced 135 hp at 3,000 RPM in H6B form, and 160 hp at 3,200 RPM in H6C specification. The engine featured full-pressure lubrication with an oil cooler and filter, plus a built-in starter/generator unit. The H6 engine became legendary for its turbine-like smoothness, silent operation, and incredible durability—many examples covered over 500,000 miles without major overhaul.

The magnificent V12 that represented the ultimate in pre-war automotive luxury. This 9,424cc 60° V12 featured two aluminum blocks with steel wet liners and a seven-bearing crankshaft. Each cylinder bank used a single overhead camshaft driven by a front-mounted vertical shaft and bevel gears, operating two valves per cylinder. The valvetrain featured adjustable tappets with hemispherical combustion chambers. Induction was through two down-draft carburetors, while ignition used dual magnetos with two spark plugs per cylinder. With 5.5:1 compression, it produced 220 hp at 3,000 RPM and immense torque from idle. The engine featured a comprehensive lubrication system with oil cooler and dual oil filters, plus a built-in starter/generator. Weighing approximately 1,100 pounds, this engine delivered unprecedented smoothness and silent operation, propelling the massive J12 chassis to 90+ mph in near-silence—a technical achievement that rivaled or exceeded contemporary Rolls-Royce and Mercedes-Benz offerings.

The liquid-cooled V12 aircraft engine that powered Allied fighters in WWII. This 36,000cc 60° V12 featured a massive aluminum crankcase with steel cylinder liners and a seven-bearing crankshaft. Each cylinder bank used a single overhead camshaft driven by a vertical shaft, operating two intake and two exhaust valves per cylinder. The valvetrain featured sodium-cooled exhaust valves and dual valve springs. Induction was through a single-stage supercharger with variable-speed drive, providing 12 psi of boost at altitude. The fuel system used direct injection with a high-pressure pump, while ignition employed dual magnetos with two spark plugs per cylinder. With 7.0:1 compression, it produced 860 hp at 2,400 RPM for takeoff and 960 hp at 2,520 RPM in emergency war power. The engine featured a 20mm motor-cannon firing through the propeller hub—a Hispano-Suiza innovation. This engine powered the Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 and other French fighters, with licensed production across Allied nations.

The advanced development of the 12Y featuring two-stage supercharging. This 36,000cc 60° V12 featured similar basic architecture to the 12Y but with significant improvements. The cylinder heads used larger valves and improved porting, while the supercharger system employed two-stage mechanical supercharging with intercooling between stages, providing 18 psi of boost at critical altitude. The fuel system used more sophisticated direct injection, while ignition employed shielded magnetos for better high-altitude performance. With 7.2:1 compression, it produced 1,300 hp at 2,700 RPM for takeoff and 1,600 hp in emergency power. The engine featured improved cooling with separate coolant circuits for cylinder blocks and heads, plus an enhanced lubrication system with better scavenging. Though developed too late for widespread WWII service, the 12Z represented the pinnacle of Hispano-Suiza's piston aircraft engine technology and influenced post-war engine design.

The massive turboprop engine developed for post-war transport aircraft. This early turboprop featured a two-spool axial-flow compressor with 14-stage high-pressure and 8-stage low-pressure sections. The combustion system used annular combustion chambers with 24 fuel nozzles, while the turbine section featured 3-stage high-pressure and 3-stage low-pressure turbines. The reduction gear used planetary gearing to reduce turbine speed from 8,500 RPM to 1,200 RPM at the propeller. The engine produced 3,200 equivalent shaft horsepower with specific fuel consumption of 0.55 lb/hp/hr. The engine featured variable-incidence stator blades in the compressor and sophisticated fuel control systems. Though only a few examples were built before Hispano-Suiza shifted focus to license production, the HS.21 demonstrated the company's ability to transition from piston to turbine technology while maintaining their reputation for engineering excellence.

The ultra-exclusive electric powertrain that resurrects the Hispano-Suiza name for the 21st century. This system features two permanent magnet synchronous motors mounted at the rear axle, producing combined 1,005 hp (1,019 PS) and 1,160 Nm of torque. Each motor uses hairpin winding technology with direct oil cooling and operates at 800V architecture. The power electronics employ silicon carbide MOSFETs with 94% efficiency and advanced thermal management. The battery is a 80 kWh lithium-ion pack using NMC 811 chemistry with active liquid cooling and heating. The battery management system monitors each of the 7,680 cells individually, with sophisticated thermal management maintaining optimal temperature within ±2°C. The system features torque vectoring across the rear axle, with the ability to send up to 100% of torque to either wheel. DC fast charging supports 80 kW capability, while the complete powertrain achieves 0-100 km/h in 2.6 seconds (Boulogne version) and a top speed of 290 km/h. Each powertrain is assembled by hand in Barcelona, maintaining the craftsmanship traditions of the original marque.

The four-motor all-wheel drive system developed for Hispano-Suiza's ultimate hypercar. This system features four liquid-cooled permanent magnet synchronous motors—one for each wheel—producing combined 2,200 hp and 2,200 Nm of torque. Each motor operates independently with vector torque control, allowing precise torque distribution to each wheel. The power electronics use next-generation silicon carbide technology with 96% efficiency and 20 kHz switching frequency. The battery is a 120 kWh solid-state pack using lithium-metal chemistry with 800V architecture. The thermal management system uses phase-change material and refrigerant cooling to maintain optimal temperature during track operation. Each motor produces 550 hp and can operate at up to 25,000 RPM, with reduction gearing optimized for maximum acceleration and 500 km/h top speed capability. The system features brake-by-wire with 900 kW regenerative braking capability. DC fast charging supports 350 kW capability, adding 500 km of range in 15 minutes. This powertrain represents the modern interpretation of Hispano-Suiza's engineering philosophy—absolute technical excellence combined with breathtaking performance.

The heart of the Hispano Suiza Carmen's performance is its quad-motor, all-wheel drive system. Each of the four wheels is driven by an independent, liquid-cooled permanent magnet synchronous motor, producing a combined output of over 1,100 hp. This setup completely eliminates the need for a physical gearbox, differentials, or driveshafts. Power from the 80 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery is delivered directly to the motors via individual inverters. The advanced torque vectoring system can distribute power to each wheel with millisecond precision, independently accelerating or braking individual wheels to induce yaw and enhance cornering agility. This system provides de facto traction control and electronic stability control that is far more responsive than any mechanical system, allowing for drift-mode functionality and unparalleled stability at high speeds. The absence of gear shifts means power delivery is seamless and continuous from 0 to its top speed.

A unique and entirely synthetic transmission of auditory experience. Recognizing that the silence of electric powertrains lacks the emotional drama expected of a hypercar, Hispano Suiza developed a bespoke sound generator. This system creates a unique, emotive soundscape that is broadcast externally via speakers. The sound is not a simulation of a combustion engine but an original composition, designed to reflect the brand's heritage and the car's futuristic nature. Its frequency and intensity are directly mapped to the throttle position, vehicle speed, and acceleration force, providing the driver and onlookers with an aural feedback that corresponds to the immense electric power being deployed. This represents the transmission of brand character and driving emotion, replacing the mechanical symphony of a traditional gearbox with a curated performance.

Founded in 1904 in Barcelona, Spain by Damián Mateu with Swiss engineer Marc Birkigt—the Hispanic-Swiss collaboration giving the marque its name—Hispano-Suiza represented pre-war luxury car excellence at its pinnacle. Royal patronage from Alfonso XIII elevated the brand's prestige, while WWI aviation engine manufacturing made Hispano-Suiza a renowned engine supplier to Allied air forces. The company's legendary V12 luxury cars and inventions like the Dubonnet suspension established Hispano-Suiza as a technical innovation leader before production ceased in 1946, leaving the brand dormant for decades. In a remarkable resurrection, fourth-generation family descendant Miguel Suqué Mateu revived Hispano-Suiza in 2019, naming the electric hypercar Carmen after the founder's granddaughter. Operating from the original Barcelona base, the reborn brand channels heritage design inspiration through modern technology application, targeting ultra-luxury positioning with limited production focused on collectors. Hispano-Suiza's revival represents Spanish automotive pride reclaiming a storied legacy—proof that great marques never truly die and that family stewardship across generations can preserve brand essence while boldly embracing contemporary technology, transforming aviation and luxury car heritage into an electric hypercar future that honors the past while defining tomorrow.